The Love System spoke again, its voice firmer this time, as though trying to drill its point into Nnenna's stubborn mind.
"You need to live, Nnenna," she said, each word deliberate and heavy. "None of this will ever matter if you don't. These people will never love you if you're dead, but if you live, if you're patient, there's still a chance to get their love.
So enough. Let it go. Let them have their moment, and rise above it. You need to exercise patience."
The System's words hit like a hammer to her chest.
"You must learn to let people's bad behavior roll off your back. It's not easy, but it's a necessary skill. It's something my master would want you to learn, something I believe you need to embrace to succeed. This is the way forward."
She paused for a moment, as if giving her a chance to reflect.
"If you still choose to use more of your Good Points, I won't disobey you. It's your call. But know this, I've tried my best to warn you, and every choice comes with a cost."
The words resonated deeply, stirring something inside her. Nnenna took a shaky breath, her fingers tightening around the edge of her blanket as she battled the storm raging within her.
The System had never been this direct before, but its urgency was unmistakable.
"Patience," she whispered under her breath, the word feeling foreign but strangely grounding. "I can do this. I'll endure... for now."
Over at Somto's side, the atmosphere in the room was heavy with unspoken tension. Somto sat poised, his calm and elegant demeanor betraying no trace of emotion as his gaze locked onto Four.
Across from him, Four leaned back slightly in his chair, his cold, calculating eyes narrowing as though trying to dissect Somto's every word.
Between them sat Ikenna, his expression a mix of discomfort and apprehension, caught between the two people he trusted most.
Somto spoke first, his tone even, cultured, but with a deliberate edge. "Why haven't you finished your physical therapy, Four? I need you back on your feet, ready and focused. There's no time for distractions."
Four's lips curled into a faint smirk, though his voice remained icy as he replied, "Distractions? Is that what you call this? You might think my search is pointless, Somto, but I don't."
His eyes darkened with determination. "I made a promise to her, to always have her back. She was my best friend, and I owe it to her to find out what happened. I know she's here, Somto. I can feel it."
Somto's composed facade remained intact, though a subtle tightening of his fingers betrayed his irritation. "And what makes you think she's here? Hmm?"
His tone was measured but dismissive, as if the very idea were beneath him. "Her father had connections, Four. Powerful ones. She could be with any one of them, far away from this hospital, this city… anywhere. And instead of following those leads, you're wasting time here on a hunch."
"I trust my instincts," Four shot back, his voice sharp, unwavering.
Somto leaned forward slightly, his calm tone taking on a dangerous undercurrent. "Or maybe you're not really looking for her. Maybe," he said, his cultured voice dipping into a whisper, "you're afraid of what you'll find."
Four's eyes flashed dangerously. "Afraid?"
Somto nodded slowly, his gaze piercing. "Afraid that she's not the person you remember. That the girl you're searching for no longer exists. Or worse…" He let the words hang in the air for a moment before delivering the blow. "That she's dead."
The silence that followed was suffocating. Ikenna, who had been sitting quietly, finally spoke up, his voice hesitant. "Somto, that's—"
"Enough, Ikenna," Somto interrupted smoothly, turning his calm yet authoritative gaze toward him. "This isn't about emotions or promises. This is about priorities. And right now, Four's priority should be his recovery."
Four rose abruptly, his cold demeanor barely masking the storm brewing within him. "I made a promise, Somto. Unlike you, I don't break mine."
Somto's expression didn't change, though there was a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. "Do whatever you want, Four. But don't expect me to entertain your delusions."
With that, Somto stood, adjusting his cufflinks with practiced elegance before walking toward the door. As he reached for the handle, he paused, glancing back over his shoulder. "Finish your therapy, Four. We both know you're wasting your time here."
He left the room with measured steps, the soft click of the door closing behind him echoing ominously.
Four sat back down, his cold gaze fixed on the door. "He knows something," he murmured, his voice low. "Somto's hiding something."
Ikenna looked between his two friends, conflicted. "Four," he said hesitantly, "Somto… he's not the type to keep secrets without reason. Maybe—"
"Maybe nothing," Four interrupted, his tone as sharp as ice. "I know what I'm doing, Ikenna. If Somto won't help, I'll do it alone."
Meanwhile, Somto walked briskly down the hallway, his steps deliberate but his mind in turmoil. 'How did he suspect she's here? I thought I covered my tracks… This is bad. If he finds out, everything I've worked for could fall apart.'
Somto stopped briefly outside Nnenna's room, his expression calm once more, though his mind was racing. 'I have to keep him from discovering the truth. No matter what it takes.'
He opened the door to find a cold atmosphere filling the room. His eyes immediately landed on Nnenna, lying silently on the bed, her expression neutral.
He then glanced at his family members, standing awkwardly, as if waiting for something. His confusion grew as he looked at each one in turn.
"What's going on here?" he asked, his voice calm but sharp with curiosity.
Queen Chioma was quick to respond, stepping forward with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Nothing's happened," she said, her tone almost too light, betraying her unease.
"Your brothers just apologized to their sister and gave her some wonderful gifts. Obinna gave her his most expensive watch, and Chidera offered all of his savings. Isn't that right, Nnenna?"